7 Reasons You May Smell Bad Despite Good Hygiene
Everyone has an occasional case of bad body odor or foul-smelling breath. But what does it mean if the odor persists even though you're on top of your personal hygiene? Many body odors are normal, but some body odors signal a health problem or change in the body.
“Diseases change the balance of chemicals in the body,” explains William Hanson, MD, a professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. Those chemicals can trigger changes in the scent of breath, urine, and other body fluids.
Here’s what several different odors mean, how to identify them, and what to do about them.
1. A Forgotten Tampon in Your Vagina
Natasha Johnson, MD, the director of the Vulvovaginal Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, describes the smell of a forgotten tampon as “an overpowering, foul odor, like rotting garbage.”
“Occasionally, a woman just forgets she already has a tampon in,” says Miriam Greene, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, and a cohost of the show Sexual Health on Sirius/XM Channel 81, Doctor Radio.
If that’s the cause, within 24 to 48 hours, you’ll notice a “very pungent smell that develops when vaginal bacteria multiply,” she says. According to Dr. Greene, “You may also have a feeling of pressure or general discomfort, but for many women, the powerful odor is the only symptom.”
If a woman leaves a tampon in for too long, the Cleveland Clinic says she might also experience:
Vaginal discharge unrelated to the period
Pain in the pelvis
Fever
The first step is simply checking for and removing the tampon. Then follow up with a doctor. If it’s been there a long time, bacteria may have grown and caused an infection. “I always like to treat with an antibiotic cream just in case the overgrowth of bacteria leads to an infection,” Greene says.
Toxic shock syndrome is a serious complication of a tampon that has stayed in the vagina for too long. Per Cleveland Clinic, seek medical attention at the nearest emergency room if you note the following symptoms:
A sunburn-like rash or red dots
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Fainting
Aches and pains in the muscles
Skin peeling on the hands and feet
2. Vaginal Yeast Infection
Vaginal yeast infection occurs because of an overgrowth of the fungus candida. This often causes no odor at all but can lead to itchiness and discharge that resembles cottage cheese and sometimes has a bready, yeasty smell, according to the Nemours Foundation.
Candida occurs naturally in the vagina, and another naturally occurring bacteria, lactobacillus, normally produces acids that control its growth.
When an outside factor like antibiotics, pregnancy, diabetes, or a compromised immune system disrupts this balance, a yeast infection can result. Yeast grows best in a warm, moist environment, so an infection can also develop when you wear tight, damp clothing, such as a bathing suit, for long periods.[3]
Other symptoms might include:
A burning sensation while peeing or having sex
A red, swollen vulva
Rashes, pain, and soreness in the vagina
Watery discharge
Yeast infections can also become painful. “Your tissues will develop inflammation and may eventually crack, which can cause a lot of pain,” Greene adds.
She recommends trying an over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal remedy for three days. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve, see your doctor. She suggests that you may need a stronger prescription cream or even an oral antifungal medicine, such as fluconazole.
Dr. Johnson says the odor may also have another cause, such as a bacterial infection. “When they have a discharge, most of my patients assume it’s a yeast infection,” she says. “Often, that’s not the case, so I prefer to see them to confirm the diagnosis.”
3. Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis develops when harmful bacteria outnumber “good” bacteria like lactobacillus in the vagina. It may lead to discharge that has a strong foul-smelling or fishy odor from your vagina.[4] The odor is the main way to tell the difference between bacterial and yeast infections of the vagina: The Cleveland Clinic suggests that bacterial vaginosis has a far stronger smell than a yeast infection.
Johnson says the odor is often most noticeable after sex, during menstruation, or just after your period. That’s because semen and menstrual blood have a high pH, meaning they're alkaline and can disrupt the normal acidic environment of the vagina. She explains that this causes the bacteria to release amines, which are organic compounds that cause foul smells.
More than 8 in 10 individuals with bacterial vaginosis don’t experience symptoms, per Cleveland Clinic. Along with the discharge and odor, other symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include:
Itching
Irritation
A burning feeling while peeing
Your doctor may analyze a culture to confirm the diagnosis. If you have bacterial vaginosis, the standard therapy is an oral or vaginal antibiotic, usually metronidazole or clindamycin.
4. Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause foul-smelling urine — indeed, doctors consider this to be a defining UTI symptom.The most common sites of infection are the bladder and urethra, the canal that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
Johnson suggests that other factors like vitamins, medication, and foods can also change your urine’s scent. For example, “Asparagus can change the odor of your urine, but that usually lasts through only one or two voids of your bladder,” Johnson says. She advises that if you take vitamins or medications daily, the effects can last longer.
Other symptoms usually occur alongside the smell when it’s from an infection, including:
A burning feeling
An urgent need to pee
Leaking urine
Pain
Cloudy or bloody urine
You may have a kidney infection if you develop nausea, lower back pain, or fever and should seek medical attention promptly because a kidney infection can be dangerous.
Your doctor will test your urine to identify the bacteria present and prescribe an antibiotic. They may also suggest these strategies to make you feel better while you have a urinary tract infection and to prevent future ones:
Drink plenty of fluids.
Pee regularly, which can improve how quickly a UTI heals.
Place a heated pad on the back or belly to relieve UTI pain.
5. Diabetes
This one is not a bad body odor, but it does spell bad news.
Sometimes, urine may have a sweet, fruity smell. “If you notice this, it may be because you’re getting rid of too much sugar in your urine,” Greene says. “This can be a sign of diabetes.” The Institute of Biomedical Science confirms that throughout history, ancient practitioners used to taste and smell pee to diagnose diabetes, identifying its trademark sweet taste and aroma.
Diabetes develops when the body can’t control blood sugar, or glucose, levels enough to return them to normal due to problems with the hormone insulin. Insulin helps your body use the glucose in foods to produce energy. When your body doesn’t make insulin, as in type 1 diabetes, or doesn’t use it well, as in type 2 diabetes, you might develop the disease.
Without treatment, diabetes can eventually lead to blindness, kidney failure, damaged nerves, heart disease, and stroke.
Diabetes may also develop as a result of pregnancy. Of every 100 pregnant women, just under 7 will develop gestational diabetes, which lasts for the duration of the pregnancy, according to a study published in 2024.
Untreated gestational diabetes can harm both mother and fetus.
Diabetes may cause extremely mild symptoms until a later stage. People with diabetes experience excessive thirst and frequent urges to pee. They also may have frequent infections, including urinary tract and yeast infections, which might cause their own odors along the sweet-smelling pee.
Other symptoms include:
Numbness in feet and hands
Constant feelings of hunger
Wounds that don’t heal
Blurred vision
Weight loss that occurs unexpectedly without explanation
Fatigue
Before starting treatment, you’ll first need to determine with your doctor whether or not you’re having difficulties controlling blood glucose. Several blood tests can diagnose diabetes, including:
A hemoglobin A1C test
Fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), in which the doctor measures blood glucose after eight hours of fasting
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), in which the doctor measures your blood glucose level two hours after drinking a fluid containing glucose
Random plasma glucose test, a simple test of the glucose in your blood
The doctor will request a second test on a different day, according to the American Diabetes Association.
While diabetes is a lifelong condition, you can manage it through diet, physical activity, and medication.
6. Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an inflammation of tissues in the sinuses, hollow spaces in the bones that connect with the nose. It can result from allergies or a bacterial or viral infection.
This type of infection can make your breath smell bad because infected mucus from your sinuses drains into the back of your throat, explains Michael Perskin, MD, the director of faculty group practice at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
A sinus infection can lead to the following symptoms:
Intense nasal congestion and pressure
A decreased sense of smell
Postnasal drip
Cough
Thick green or yellow discharge from the nose
Pressure in the ear, tooth, or face
Fever
Headache
Fatigue
Sinusitis sometimes clears up without treatment. If symptoms get worse or don’t improve, visit a doctor. If the following symptoms develop after several days, seek emergency consultation at the nearest emergency room:
Fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit
Mental changes, such as confusion
Altered vision, including eye pain and swelling
Neck stiffness
Seizures
These might suggest a severe infection.
Your doctor may list all your symptoms, examine your nasal passages, and test for the particular type of organism causing the infection. If you have a bacterial infection, they will most likely prescribe oral antibiotics.
But people can manage sinusitis through over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, such as decongestants, steroid nasal sprays, cold and allergy medications, or leukotriene antagonists. Surgery may be necessary to remove nasal polyps or treat fungal infections.
7. Foot Infection
“The sweat on your feet doesn’t smell on its own,” says Mark Kosinski, DPM, a podiatrist and a professor at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City. “The sweat creates a moist environment which, in your warm shoes, is a perfect setting for growth of bacteria and fungi. The odor is a metabolic by-product of the bacteria and fungi living on your feet.”
Itching in specific locations on the feet, as well as red skin, can suggest a fungal foot infection. “Itching that starts between the webs of toes and spreads is a sign of fungal infection,” says Zeina Tannous, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. “Other signs are redness and flaking or scaling skin.”
Dr. Kosinski suggests treating the condition with OTC products. To stop the sweat, use a deodorizing foot powder or even a regular underarm spray antiperspirant.
Stay away from cornstarch, though, Kosinski advises. Cornstarch actually provides food for the bacteria and fungi on your feet. His other tips for dealing with embarrassing foot odor include:
Spray both shoes and feet with an athlete’s foot spray powder.
Try activated charcoal insoles to combat the smell in your shoes.
Avoid wearing the same shoes every day, and let them dry and air out between wearings.
Wear shoes with breathable uppers made of leather or canvas.
Wear cotton socks when possible, as they allow feet to breathe better than synthetic fabrics.
If these steps don’t work, see a podiatrist, who might prescribe a stronger antifungal medication. They may also do tests to determine another cause for the excessive sweating, such as thyroid disease.
If you have extreme sweating on your feet, your doctor may try a treatment to control it. For example, Botox injections block the secretion of the chemical in the nervous system that activates the sweat glands. Iontophoresis, in which a practitioner uses water as a conductor for a small electric current, also blocks the flow of sweat.
One word of caution: If you have diabetes, visit a doctor at the first sign of odor. Fungal and bacterial foot infections may progress quickly and become more severe in people with diabetes.
The Takeaway
While foul odors can cause embarrassment, it’s vital to identify the health problems at their root, as they may be causing other symptoms that affect quality of life, such as pain, illness, or skin issues. Infections of the genitals and urinary tract can lead to distinctive foul odors, while diabetes, sinusitis, and excess sweating might contribute to other unwelcome odors.
Speak to a doctor about odors that persist despite good hygiene, or those that occur alongside other uncomfortable symptoms. Many of the causes have direct treatments or medications that manage the underlying health issue.
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Toxins Bring on Auto-Immunity Diseases?
by Dr. Mark Sircus AC., OMD, DM (P)
The prevailing medical view of autoimmune diseases is that the immune system attacks healthy cells and organs for no good reason. This attack results in local or generalized inflammations that cause the most damage. Therefore, the usual medical treatment aims to suppress inflammations and the immune system. Commonly, corticosteroids are prescribed in addition to other anti-inflammatory drugs, none of which are beneficial or get to the root of the problem.
The key phrase above is for no good reason. There is always a good reason, and the basic one is when supposedly healthy cells are no longer recognized as healthy cells because they are altered, polluted, or contaminated by one or more of thousands of toxins flooding our biosphere (worldwide sum of all ecosystems) and, thus, our bodies.
The World Health Organization has said millions die each year from air pollution, but they do not talk much about what that pollution does short of killing people. Research suggests increases in autoimmune diseases are related to remarkable changes in our environment and lifestyles, including alterations in diet and upsurges in obesity, sleep deprivation, stress, air pollution, exposure to toxic chemicals, and infections.
Our immune systems are turning against us in a growing tide of internal rebellion. Instead of attacking cancerous cells, viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, our immune systems are increasingly attacking our bodies, which are no longer healthy. It is challenging to stay healthy when our air, water, and food are contaminated and highly processed. And doctors and pharmaceutical companies do not make it easier.
Though modern medicine is scratching its head about the why of autoimmune diseases, it is easy to understand that poisoned cells are not recognized as us anymore, as our cells. They have been altered by heavy metals, forever chemicals, plastics, pesticides, unending vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and radiation.
More than a hundred different types of autoimmune diseases—from Type 1 diabetes to psoriasis—afflict millions of people. Around 50 million Americans suffer an autoimmune condition, and 1 in 5 will be afflicted at some point, according to the Autoimmune Association.
Organ damage, pain, and years—sometimes decades—of misdiagnosis haunt the growing number of the afflicted because we are not focused on the fundamental causes. Research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology in 2022 found antinuclear antibodies, the most common biomarker of autoimmunity, have increased nearly 50 percent in the United States in less than 30 years, and it will continue to accelerate as we continue to pollute the biosphere.
“Many of these children might not ever achieve their full potential because battling chronic illness will alter their lives,” wrote one of the researchers, leading autoimmunity scientist Frederick Miller, in a 2020 Scientific American article co-authored by Olivia Casey, a senior director at the Autoimmune Association.
What happens when your body tries to create all its cells and various proteins and molecules out of denatured materials, like genetically modified foods, synthesized molecules, industrial processed ingredients, and so on? There is no chance these cells will look normal to the immune system, which will try to get rid of them.
Most therapies for these conditions work by suppressing the immune system, explains the Autoimmune Association. The problem with these treatments is they require a trade-off that leaves people more vulnerable to various infections. Long-term use of immunosuppressant drugs may also lead to an increased risk of cancer, a problem of particular concern for transplant recipients who take these drugs to prevent organ rejection.
It seems likely that autoimmunity is like most other chronic conditions afflicting people today: a consequence of civilization that has lost its inherent harmony with this world and our basic biology.
Baking Soda To The Rescue
Most types of air, water, and food pollutants are accumulative. They continue to build up and concentrate on the environment and our tissues. We can delay and push back against the inevitable with the most straightforward substances like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and edible clay, which, when used regularly, help remove foreign substances from the body.
The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University says, “A daily dose of baking soda may help reduce the destructive inflammation of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.” Scientists report that they have some of the first evidence of how the cheap, over-the-counter antacid can encourage our spleen to promote instead an anti-inflammatory environment that could be therapeutic in the face of inflammatory disease. This was reported in the Journal of Immunology.
These scientists have shown that when rats or healthy people drink a solution of baking soda or sodium bicarbonate, it becomes a trigger for the stomach to make more acid to digest the next meal and for little-studied mesothelial cells sitting on the spleen to tell the fist-sized organ that there’s no need to mount a protective immune response.
Dr. Paul O’Connor, renal physiologist in the MCG Department of Physiology at Augusta University, says drinking baking soda tells the spleen to go easy on the immune response. Drinking water with baking soda for two weeks shifted the population of immune cells called macrophages, from primarily those that promote inflammation, called M1, to those that reduce it, called M2.
One of the many functions of the kidneys is balancing important compounds like acid, potassium, and sodium. With kidney disease, there is impaired kidney function, and one of the resulting problems can be that the blood becomes too acidic, O’Connor says. “It sets the whole system up to fail,” O’Connor says. But what is often the first organ to fail? The pancreas is the most vulnerable.
The average American diet, which is high in junk foods and low in vegetables, makes your body overly acidic. Balanced body pH is essential for good health. We must maintain an optimal pH for proper cellular function. If you are too acidic, you are more prone to disease and inflammation. Being overly acidic makes you more prone to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, inflammation, autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, and other chronic diseases and problems.
Magnesium is a great help because it is needed in the detoxification process. Same with iodine, selenium, and sulfur. Most oxygen therapies help, as oxygen is also required in detoxification.
(Note: There are many videos and instructions on the internet on how to take baking soda).
The Connection Between Autoimmune Disease and Inflammation
When exposed to environmental toxins, our immune system is activated to initiate an inflammatory response, sending out pro-inflammatory cells (e.g., natural killer cells) and proteins (e.g., cytokines and chemokines) to package up and remove these toxins from our body as best as possible.
The problem occurs when the immune system doesn’t receive the signal that the threat has been neutralized so that it can turn itself off. With toxins, the threats are constant. They do not go away. So, instead of stopping the recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells and proteins, the immune system continues to fire the “Go” signal, and the inflammatory response continues, leading to more and more inflammation. As a result, the body itself becomes subject to collateral damage, manifesting into chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Antinuclear Antibodies
Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) attack our cells, and researchers found that teenagers experienced a nearly 300 percent increase in ANAs between 1988 and 2012. The young are more vulnerable to the rising tide of pollution of all types, and they suffer from it on all levels, including mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, so no wonder they suffer from depression and poor sleep.
